How Stress Impacts Safety When Working at Height (and What You Can Do About It)

Introduction

It is the end of a long shift.
The job will only take a few minutes… so you just get it done.

No one plans to take a shortcut, but this is often how it starts.

April marks Stress Awareness Month 2026, with this year’s theme: #BeTheChange, encouraging individuals and organisations to take small actions that make a meaningful difference.

Because stress is not just a wellbeing issue —
👉 it is a safety risk.

In 2024–25, an estimated 964,000 workers were affected by work-related stress, resulting in 22.1 million lost working days.

But what does that actually mean on site, especially when working at height?

In this blog, we explore:

• How stress impacts behaviour and decision-making on site
• Why it increases risk when working at height
• The link between pressure, shortcuts, and incidents
• Practical steps to reduce stress and improve safety

What is Stress Awareness Month, and Why Does it Matter for Working at Height?

Stress Awareness Month has been held every April since 1992, with the aim of increasing understanding of the causes, effects, and management of stress in both individuals and workplaces.

The 2026 theme, #BeTheChange, focuses on taking simple, everyday actions, starting conversations, recognising stress, and making small improvements that lead to safer and healthier working environments.

This is particularly important in working at height environments, where the margin for error is small.

Tasks often involve:

• Height and exposure to risk
• High levels of concentration
• Time pressure and deadlines
• Physically demanding work
  
  

👉 When stress is introduced into these environments, it directly impacts how work is carried out.

And that is where risk increases.

Why This Matters More Than We Think

We often focus on equipment, procedures, and risk assessments.
But incidents do not just happen because something fails…

👉 they happen because of people, pressure, and behaviour.

As safety speaker Jason Anker highlights, the real reasons behind unsafe decisions are often human:

• The pressure to “look busy”
• Financial stress or fear of job loss
• Embarrassment in speaking up or saying no
• A mindset of “it’ll be fine this time”
  
  

👉 These are real situations happening on site every day.

The Reality: Attention Doesn’t Stay Perfect

It is estimated that 9 in 10 incidents are linked to fatigue, distraction, or lack of awareness.

And here is the reality:

👉 Situational awareness naturally fades.

For a few minutes every hour, focus drops, whether we realise it or not.
Attention drifts.
People go on autopilot.

When working at height, that is all it takes.

Why Stress is a Safety Risk When Working at Height

Stress impacts:

• Focus
• Decision-making
• Behaviour

When working at height, even small lapses can have serious consequences.

On site, this often shows up as:

• Rushing tasks to meet deadlines
• Skipping pre-use checks
• Choosing quicker, less suitable access methods
• Overreaching or working unsafely
  
  

👉 These behaviours significantly increase the likelihood of falls from height.

Why Working at Height Increases Stress

And when you combine this with the demands of working at height, the risk increases further.

Working at height is not just physically demanding, it can also be mentally challenging.

Common stress factors include:

• Fear of falling or dropping tools
• High levels of concentration required
• Pressure to complete tasks quickly
• Environmental factors like weather or confined spaces
• Poor or unsuitable equipment

The Link Between Stress and Equipment Choice

One of the most common risks we see is equipment being chosen based on speed or convenience, not safety.

Under pressure, teams are more likely to:

• Use ladders instead of safer alternatives
• Avoid setting up proper access equipment
• Try to complete tasks quickly with minimal planning
  
  

👉 This is where the risk increases.

Especially when tasks require:

• Stability
• Two hands
• Longer durations at height

It is Not Optional: Managing Stress is a Legal Duty

The HSE is clear:

👉 Work-related stress must be assessed and managed like any other workplace hazard.

Preventing stress is essential because:

• It is the law – employers must assess and manage risks
• It is good for business – stress reduces productivity and increases absence
• It is the right thing to do – it supports wellbeing and retention
  
  

Using the HSE Working Minds Approach (The 5 Rs)

The HSE Working Minds campaign provides a simple framework to manage stress:

1. Reach Out
Start conversations with your team about pressure and workload

2. Recognise
Identify signs of stress — such as rushing or reduced focus

3. Respond
Take action to reduce risks (planning, equipment, support)

4. Reflect
Review what’s working and what needs to improve

5. Make it Routine
Regularly check in and monitor stress levels

Applying the 5 Rs to Working at Height

Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Reach Out: Ask teams where pressure impacts how they work at height
• Recognise: Spot behaviours like rushing, shortcuts, or ladder overuse
• Respond: Provide better equipment and realistic timeframes
• Reflect: Review incidents, near misses, and feedback
• Make it Routine: Build stress awareness into daily safety culture
  
  

How to Reduce Stress and Improve Safety at Height

1. Plan Work Properly

• Set realistic deadlines
• Avoid unnecessary time pressure
• Ensure clear RAMS
  
  

To support this, you can use practical tools to improve planning and consistency:

👉 Download the HLS Work at Height Checklist
👉 Download the HLS MEWP Pre-Use Inspection Checklist
👉 Download the HLS Risk Assessment Template

These resources can help you proactively identify hazards, improve planning, and reduce the likelihood of stress-related shortcuts on site.

2. Provide the Right Equipment

The right equipment reduces both risk and stress:

• Stable platforms reduce overreaching
• One-person solutions reduce pressure
• Safer alternatives reduce reliance on ladders
  
  

3. Support Safer Behaviours

• Reinforce Ladders Last
• Ensure equipment is available and accessible
• Promote best practice
  
  

4. Deliver Training & Build Confidence

• Ensure correct use of equipment
• Improve competence at height
• Reduce uncertainty and anxiety
  
  

HLS can assist you to choose the correct course to suit your team's needs on any category at your site or at one of our network of IPAF approved training partners centres across the UK.

Browse the different types of courses available

Final Thoughts

Stress may not always be visible, but its impact on working at height is clear.

👉 Stress leads to pressure
👉 Pressure leads to shortcuts
👉 Shortcuts lead to increased risk

By recognising this connection, businesses can:
✔ Reduce incidents
✔ Improve productivity
✔ Create safer working environments

👉 Are your teams under pressure when working at height?

👉 Review your risk assessments and how stress is being managed

👉 Download our free Risk Assessment Template to help identify hazards and reduce risk on site

👉 Or speak to our team about safer, more efficient alternatives to ladders